As a Guild fan what would be your advice to the new owners of the brand?

[shot put]

Hi Again- I have taught guitar at Fret House and Acoustic Music for over 40 years-100's of students. Back in the 70's I noticed mostly the serious players had the higher end guitars. As I mentioned my acoustic of no choice was a Silvertone until age 19. Now days kids I teach have Taylors and Martins and not the Asian stuff. I am not sure they are not brand aware-I have seen evidence that they are. More artist exposure has made brand more evident. I think Guild d-25's and m-20's, if moderately priced, would sale like never before. IMHO

 

[Watasha]

Hi- I remember back in 1971 when I first started looking at "good" acoustic guitars; I thought $250 would be sufficient and my dad wouldn't kill me. My brother told me Martins were the best and I noticed Cat Stevens playing a Gibson. I never had played a decent acoustic-my Sears Silvertone was used as my frame of reference. A friend of mine got a Gibson as a birthday present- don't remember the model but it was dreadnaught shaped and made of mahogony. He let me play it in the locker room (good acoustics) and I couldn't believe the tone and action. Then I went out for my search-went in to sticker-shock at Wallach's Music City as I played Martin D-18's and Gibson J-200's priced at near a grand even back then. My quest was over-Then I noticed John Denver's Guild 12 on Poems, Prayers and Promises-never heard of Guild-I noticed a couple on the wall at The Fret House in Covina, Ca. acouple years later. I played a d-55 and a d-44m -at $490w/case. It sounded soooooo much better than the Gibsons and Martins at less than half the price. I bought the d-44 and my dad did try to kill me at the dinner table when my younger brother hug me out to dry. Guild was the poor mans Martin and Gibson in those days-that is why they were so successful.IMHO The boutique was a flawed concept from the beginning. They should build the m-20, d-25, d-44, d-55, f-30,f-50 ,212,412 and 512 and special order the 612 and sell them at below Martin,Taylor and Gibson prices. Then they will succeed again.

Great story. Give me an F20 & at least one larger short scale model & I'm on board.

 

[shot put]

Love f-20's hard choice-m-20's possibly more unique. One thing I have also noticed since late 60's is many artists play smaller guitars-possibly due to better amplification. I remember when m-20's were first introduced-mahogony tops were rare with a cool sound. Thanks

 

[Default]

When I first took lessons around 81, the music store had three M-20 beaters for students to play if they forgot their own guitars. Dirty, scratched with dead strings. Ol' Howard Herbert would be spinning in his grave if he knew how much they were going for nowadays!

 

[bluesypicky]

When I first took lessons around 81

I never realized you were that old.

 

[markus]

I never realized you were that old.

That statement seems way nicer than "I never realized you took lessons." ;-)
Markus :smile:

 

[Default]

 

[bluesypicky]

Still holding a strat with a humbucker at the bridge!?... you will never be "old" in my book Steve.

 

[adorshki]

If as a result of your awareness, you can avoid the negative impact on a single child's psyche, then it will be well worth it.

I think the Global Dentist's Association might be inclined to deem the effort as being impractical.

Pascal, you and Al are taking synchronized-veering to new heights. layful:
Just observing here,
Joe

Some people don't think we're serious, others suspect collusion afoot.
For that there's psychia.., errr, podiatrists.
The truth is that the synchronized swimming class was already full.
Back to you, Joe.
layful:

 

[adorshki]

I only say to kill GSR because I don't think the brand is at the point where specialty, limited-run guitars are the right places to spend your time and money.
Re-establishing a brand is tough work and they would need as few distractions as possible.
Go back to basics. Make solid guitars. Build models that were the top sellers. Re-inspire confidence in your brand. Simple points to start by.

YES. Also, maintaining "GSR" as a "type" maintains too strong a tie to NH nomenclatures. If anything I'd think they'd want to introduce a "type" that would be strongy identified with the Cordoba shop and its capabilities, when they're ready.

 

[adorshki]

Lesse,,, what would my advice be?
DUHH!! (slaps head):
You want to maintain the loyalty of current owners who WANT to buy new instruments?
HONOR THE WARRANTY ON METICULOUSLY CARED FOR INTRUMENTS FROM THE FENDER ERA!!
(ok my D25 would probably flunk based on cosmetic issues, but if that one was defective, it woulda showed it by now)
See if the current authorized service centers are willing to come on board.
The very first thing the guy at CB Perkns did when I took my F65ce in was evaluate the cosmetic condition for signs of abuse/neglect.
THAT, by the way, is another good argument for keeping 'em cased.

 

[valleyguy]

Since I live in Los Angeles, a "Let's Meet Guild" factory tour of us Guild freaks would be high on my list.

If any NH people are reading this and have been offered to move to Oxnard, the Oxnard/Ventura community is a great place to live. I wish I was there. Relatively inexpensive housing prices, and it's on or near the beach. Close drive to Los ANgeles and Santa Barbara. Weather is perfect, rarely gets below 40 or over 85. Humidity is always perfect. Gosh, i wish I had some luthier skills.....

 

[adorshki]

Since I live in Los Angeles, a "Let's Meet Guild" factory tour of us Guild freaks would be high on my list.
If any NH people are reading this and have been offered to move to Oxnard, the Oxnard/Ventura community is a great place to live. I wish I was there. Relatively inexpensive housing prices, and it's on or near the beach.

Both topics bein' discusseed over on "Fender sells Guild" thread.
Apparently, no offers to NH workers.

 

[adorshki]

Advice to new owners:
One more thought:
Do NOT change the traditional "flat" neck heel. PLEASE!
It is one of the uniquely "Guild" details and yes in fact I do play that high up the neck and realized it was one of those things that Guild "got" when I tried out my D25 in the store.

 

[bluesypicky]

Advice to new owners:
One more thought:
Do NOT change the traditional "flat" neck heel. PLEASE!
It is one of the uniquely "Guild" details and yes in fact I do play that high up the neck and realized it was one of those things that Guild "got" when I tried out my D25 in the store.

Definitely a top feature there!!!

And the one thing kinda bothering me on my Martins.... not to the point where I can't live with it, but no doubt added comfort on Guilds.

 

[Walter Broes]

Actually, the GSRs fit in with Cordoba's business model. They have four luthiers building highend guitars and they have the lower-priced guitars imported from Spain, Portugal and that other place.

That's what I think is pretty awkward//funny/not funny about the whole "Oxnard this, Oxnard that" - four luthiers. Who probably have their hands full producing Cordoba's top of the line classicals. Does anyone really expect to see an Oxnard built Guild any time soon?

 

[SFIV1967]

Does anyone really expect to see an Oxnard built Guild any time soon?

I could not see those 4 current Cordoba luthiers doing this. Mind they only work on selected highend Cordoba guitars as far as I understand. There must be a plan in CMGs pockets for the added Guild brand.
Ralf

 

[Default]

That's what I think is pretty awkward//funny/not funny about the whole "Oxnard this, Oxnard that" - four luthiers. Who probably have their hands full producing Cordoba's top of the line classicals. Does anyone really expect to see an Oxnard built Guild any time soon?

To be truthful, no. I was talking about the business model, not the manufacturing capabilities at present.
If you are talking about offering high end American built limited run guitars, supported by import lines, yeah, that's what I was getting at.
The manufacturing capability of four guys having any kind of output is obviously ludicrous.

 

[Brad Little]

I could not see those 4 current Cordoba luthiers doing this. Mind they only work on selected highend Cordoba guitars as far as I understand. There must be a plan in CMGs pockets for the added Guild brand.
Ralf

I imagine we'll see some sort of news release in the next month or so with at least bare bones of their plans. So far, it's still only a letter of intent to purchase (see: http://cordobamusicgroup.com/news). Any hard news about product plans will probably not come until the actual sale is a done deal.
Brad

 

[Walter Broes]

To be truthful, no. I was talking about the business model, not the manufacturing capabilities at present.
If you are talking about offering high end American built limited run guitars, supported by import lines, yeah, that's what I was getting at.
The manufacturing capability of four guys having any kind of output is obviously ludicrous.

Exactly - probably why the official FMIC statement kind of rubs me the wrong way. There might be a lot going on we don't know, but with what we know right now...

"“We have found a great fit in Cordoba Music Group, a company committed to quality and with impressive U.S.-based production capabilities.”"

Putting that in their statement obviously looks better than saying "we sold it to a company that mostly builds beginner guitars and ukes in China, some slightly nicer ones in Spain, and a very limited number of very nice ones in a tiny workshop in the USA.